1Jadeveon ClowneyHouston Texans (2-14)COLLEGE: South CarolinaClass: JrHT: 6-5WT: 266POS: DE
Analysis: I'm certain the debate about which player to take still exists, and whether the pick could be moved. I still think this could be a quarterback. But I believe that while more than one "safe" pick exists in this draft, it's hard to play it safer in terms of upside than selecting a generational physical talent, a guy who has exceptional physical skills and the ability to bring immediate impact and create consistent matchup problems up front as teams deal with the reality of how to block both Clowney and J.J. Watt. The questions on Clowney still aren't enough to diminish the potential impact. He's the top prospect in a draft full of very good ones, and I think Houston will feel the same.

4Johnny ManzielCleveland Browns (4-12)COLLEGE: Texas A&MClass: SophHT: 5-11WT: 207POS: QB
Analysis: Manziel is not my top-rated QB, but he is the QB I believe (right now) is likeliest to go this high, as I believe a team like Cleveland, with a number of draft assets and a QB on the roster it feels can create a bridge to a young starter, is in a good scenario to take a chance on Manziel's ceiling. The Browns owning the No. 26 pick as well as an early second-rounder gives them a chance to take a player like Watkins here if available and consider a QB later, but this is how I see it as of right now.

8Blake BortlesMinnesota Vikings (5-10-1)COLLEGE: UCFClass: JrHT: 6-5WT: 232POS: QB
Analysis: The combination of Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder will provide a bridge to Bortles, a player I believe would benefit from not starting early as he develops a familiarity with an offense that requires more downfield reads. I don't have Bortles rated as high as I do Bridgewater, but again, this is a projection of where players will be chosen, not my prospect rankings. What I will say is that I do believe Bortles has a high ceiling because he's a pretty special athlete with some really good instincts for the position; his pocket movement in particular is really impressive. When you consider his development trajectory, there's a lot to be excited about.

33. Houston Texans | *Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Let me be clear: This is the top-rated quarterback on my Big Board, a player I have rated higher than Bortles, Manziel or Carr. But my reading of the tea leaves in speaking with many evaluators around the league is that Bridgewater could drop if he slides past a couple of points early on. If I could project trades, I'd have someone taking him later in Round 1 having moved up. Obviously, he's a steal at this point.

34. Washington Redskins | Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin

35. Cleveland Browns | *Davante Adams, WR, Fresno St.

36. Oakland Raiders | *Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida St.

37. Atlanta Falcons | Dee Ford, DE/OLB, Auburn

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi St.

39. Jacksonville Jaguars | Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois

40. Minnesota Vikings | Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU

41. Buffalo Bills | *Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise St.

42. Tennessee Titans | Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU

43. New York Giants | *Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA

44. St. Louis Rams | Jimmie Ward, S, No. Illinois

45. Detroit Lions | Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska

46. Pittsburgh Steelers | *Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame

47. Dallas Cowboys | Deone Bucannon, S, Washington St.

48. Baltimore Ravens | *Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina

49. New York Jets | *Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

50. Miami Dolphins | Joel Bitonio, OL, Nevada

51. Chicago Bears | Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida St.

52. Arizona Cardinals | Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech

53. Green Bay Packers | *Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech

54. Philadelphia Eagles | Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood

55. Cincinnati Bengals | *Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

56. San Francisco 49ers (from KC) | Phillip Gaines, CB, Rice

57. San Diego Chargers | *Donte Moncrief, WR, Mississippi

58. New Orleans Saints | Keith McGill, CB, Utah

59. Indianapolis Colts | *Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU

60. Carolina Panthers | Josh Huff, WR, Oregon

61. San Francisco 49ers | *Marcus Martin, C, USC

62. New England Patriots | Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio St.

63. Denver Broncos | *David Yankey, OG, Stanford

64. Seattle Seahawks | Ja'Wuan James, OT, Tennessee

Dan Kadar ‏@MockingTheDraft

Quote:

In @MelKiperESPN's latest mock, the Texans get Clowney and Bridgewater and nothing is fair.

Yes but Kiper has to sell subscriptions to his service. What better way to sucker fans?

I called Mel's phone number and they are not doing a draft guide this year. This is the 1st time I have not gotten a guide since the Texans formed.

I told them I was sad to see it go. IMO and judging from the comments from the women on the other end, I think his ESPN contract is keeping him from doing a draft guide for the next couple of years. Now I am inferring into her comments, and reading between lines, and I may be totally off base on this.

a generational physical talent, a guy who has exceptional physical skills

looking at combine numbers, watt at 290lbs had a better 3-cone and 20yd shuttle. mario was better at most every event, including a 4.7 40 at 295lbs which more than translates. two players looked up for no other reason than they are/were on my hometown team, i'm sure there are many more who obliterated those numbers at their combines/pro days. both (and everyone else) had better final seasons on the field. call clowney what you will, but he is far from generational physically ... he's not even winning the current class.

the hype around a player that developed earlier than others is insane. i'm not saying he cant be really good, and i'm not even saying we should pass on him first, just that the exaggerations are getting out of hand.

Its weird how in the last few days I have seen mocks where Bortles or Bridgewater lasts to the 2nd round. Did some new info come out about them or is it just all the time between the workouts and the draft give people extra time to be overly critical of every little aspect of their game.

Its weird how in the last few days I have seen mocks where Bortles or Bridgewater lasts to the 2nd round. Did some new info come out about them or is it just all the time between the workouts and the draft give people extra time to be overly critical of every little aspect of their game.